A taxi medallion, also known as a CPNC, is a transferable permit in the United States allowing a taxicab driver to operate. A number of major cities in the US use these in their taxi licensing systems, including New York, Boston and nearby Cambridge, Chicago, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. Medallions may be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. The New York medallions are the most valuable, once peaking at over one million dollars. With the introduction of peer-to-peer ridesharing services, the taxi industry has faced competition, and the price of medallions has dropped substantially. According to The Washington Post, medallions were "the best investment in America", but—due to increased competition from app-based car services and transportation network company growth from companies like Uber and Lyft—taxi medallions are now decreasing in price.
Historical prices
Boston
In 2013, the price of a medallion was $625,000. In 2014, that price had risen to around $700,000.
Cambridge
In 2014, a medallion was worth nearly $700,000.
Chicago
The total value of all medallions and assets related to them had a value of $2.5 billion in Chicago in 2013. In 2012, medallion prices ranged from $87,000 to $385,000. In 2015, Chicago's average medallion price was under $230,000, down 30% from 2014. In 2018, they had dropped to a range of $30,000 to $100,000.
The total value of all medallions and assets related to them had a value of $16.6 billion in New York City in 2013. In 1962, the market value of a medallion was around $25,000. The price rose steadily. In 2005, an individual medallion was around $325,000 while a corporate medallion was approximately $375,000. Around 2010, the market value of a medallion was around $600,000. It peaked around 2013 at over $1,000,000. Between 2014 and 2015, New York City's non-corporate medallion price dropped 45%. In 2015, the price had fallen to approximately $650,000. As of 2018, one can now purchase a medallion for less than $200,000. On July 11, 2019 sixteen medallions were offered at auction, three of which sold for $137,000, $136,000 and $138,000, while another thirteen medallions had no bidders.
Philadelphia
In 2005, the value of a medallion was roughly $65,000 to $80,000. As of 2018, the cost is around $50,000.
